PATENT, COPYRIGHT &

LICENSE

Patent

There is no universal definition. Functional expression of an idea - not

the idea itself. It is given by a state for a limited period

of time. It restricts other from using the invention

without the permission of patent holder.

License

A license is a kind of a permission. Patent holder can grant permission to

use his/her patent by licensing it to others.

Software companies/creators license software to others for using.

License can cover special agreements like warranties.

Copyright

Copyright prevents unauthorized copy. Authors can protect their writings,

photographers can protect their photography.

Software can be copyrighted to prevent unauthorized copying of software.

Software in public domain cannot be copyrighted.

Copyleft

Copyleft license is a copyright license. Copyleft enable the user to copy,

distribute and modify the work. Modified/derived works should be

distributed with the same terms as the main work.

Some Open Source Licenses GNU GPL GNU LGPL GNU AGPL MIT License BSD License MPL License

GNU GPL

Written by Richard Stallman Free and open-source license Copyleft License 3 versions released Many open source software use open

source license Most notably, Linux

GNU GPL

GPL addressed two problems in software freedom.

First problem and solutionSoftware were distributed as binary only, no

one can edit.GPLv1 said that the source code must be

available under the same license.

GNU GPL (cont.)

Second problem and solutionFree software was being combined with

restricted software restricting software freedom

GPLv1 said software distributed with GPLv1 licensed software must have the same permission as GPLv1

BSD License There are many versions – Modified BSD

License is most common. Free and open-source license. There are also Original BSD License and

Free BSD License. Permissive License - works based on the

material may be released under a proprietary license or as closed source software.

Notable software – NetBSD, FreeBSD

MIT License

MIT License is almost as same as BSD License.

Does not contain the term prohibiting the use of the name of the copyright holder in promotion of derivative work.

Notable software – X Windowing System, Mono Development

MPL

Mozilla Public License Most Mozilla Software, Adobe Flex,

Open Solaris use it Copyleft License It’s licensing is in two parts – initial

author’s right and other people’s rights Can be combined with proprietary

software

AGPL

Affero General Public License Mainly used for web services or SaaS

model Web services under should provide a

link to download the source code

LGPL

LGPL is used for software libraries It allows other software to link with the

library All other restrictions from GPL are also

in LGPL

Creative Commons Attribution

Used to share creative works like texts, photography, etc.

Version 3 is used in Wikipedia. This license allows to share, remix, and

make commercial use of the work You must attribute the work in the manner

specified by the author or licensor First version didn’t allowed derivative

works and commercial use

Reference

http://dunlapcodding.com/phosita/2009/01/what-is-the-difference-between-a-patent-trademark-and-a-copyright.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.gnu.org/ http://opensource.org/ http://creativecommons.org/

Thank You